Independiente Santa Fe had everything to become champion at home. Pablo Peirano’s team equaled the final series of the 2024-I League against Atlético Bucaramanga: they had lost 1-0 in the first leg and were down 1-2 at home.
It is the third consecutive final that Santa Fe has lost in the League: in 2017-II they lost against Millonarios, who beat them 1-0 in the first leg and tied them 2-2 in the second leg, with a goal from Henry Rojas in the 85th minute Then, in 2020, they lost against América: they lost 3-0 in Cali and could barely win 2-0 in El Campín.
What does the supposed ‘curse of La Lechona’ consist of?
Santa Fe shares a statistical curiosity with four other teams: statistician Paolo Arenas describes it as ‘The Curse of La Lechona’. All the teams that achieved their last star against Tolima have not celebrated a League title since then.
The first on the list is Cúcuta Deportivo, which in 2006 achieved its only star by defeating Tolima in the final. They won 1-0 at General Santander and tied 1-1 at Murillo Toro, with a goal from Macnelly Torres. Since then he has not qualified for a final again and even fell to B and disappeared for a year and a half.
Cúcut champion in 2006
Photo:Felipe Caicedo. EL TIEMPO Archive
The next ‘victim’ was Once Caldas, who was crowned champion in 2010-II. They lost 2-1 in Ibagué, but won 3-1 in Manizales to win the star. He has not done an Olympic lap since then. A year later, he played in the final against Junior and lost at home, in shots from the penalty spot.
Deportivo Cali’s most recent title was in the second half of 2021, with Rafael Dudamel as coach, the same one who just won Bucaramanga champion. The final was against Tolima: a 1-1 draw in Palmaseca and a 1-2 ‘sugarero’ victory at the Murillo Toro. Since then, Cali has been in free fall and is now threatened by relegation.
Deportivo Cali champion
Photo:EFE
And another great, Atlético Nacional, also seems to be a victim of the ‘curse of the piglet’. His most recent star was won in 2022-Iin a vibrant final against Tolima: they had won 3-1 at the Atanasio Girardot and in Ibagué they lost 2-0, until an agonizing goal from Jarlan Barrera came to secure the crown.
A year later, Nacional returned to a final, but lost it against Millonarios, after tying both games, 0-0 in Medellín and 1-1 in El Campín, and falling in the tiebreaker from the white point. Barrera, the hero 12 months ago, failed the last charge. This semester he didn’t even rank in the top eight.
Now, Santa Fe is still trying to overcome the frustration of losing the title at home. The last time he celebrated was against Tolima, in 2016-II, with a goal from Héctor Urrego. Will the curse continue?
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